College Football TV Ratings: Top 10 most-watched games of Week 2
Texas at Michigan averaged 9.35 million viewers last weekend, unseating USC–LSU as the most-watched game of the college football season.
The nonconference matchup in Ann Arbor marked just the second time the two programs have met. Despite the Longhorns’ 31-12 blowout win, viewers tuned in to FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.
On3 compiled data from network press releases, Programming Insider and Sports Business Journal to piece together the top 10 most-watched games of Week 2 of the college football season. Data from SEC Network, ACC Network and Longhorn Network are not included because the networks do not pay for Nielsen to measure viewership. All Nielsen figures include streaming viewership and includes out-of-home viewing.
Here is the full breakdown of Week 2’s college football TV ratings:
1. Texas at Michigan
Channel: FOX
Date/Time: Noon ET
Viewers: 9.35 million
FOX’s bet on Big Noon Kickoff continues to deliver for the network. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw 246 yards and three touchdowns, along with a 66.7 completion percentage.
2. Colorado at Nebraska
Channel: NBC
Date/Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 6.3 million including Peacock
NBC’s decision to get involved in Big Ten media rights rewarded them with the primetime conference game of the week. Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns in a statement 28-10 win over Colorado.
3. Northern Illinois at Notre Dame
Channel: NBC
Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 3.9 million
After knocking off Texas A&M in College State, Notre Dame returned home and was upset by Northern Illinois. The Huskies blocked the 62-yard field goal try in the final seconds, not leaving anything up to chance. Northern Illinois entered the game as a 28.5-point and had never beaten a top-10 opponent.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard injured his posterior labrum on his non-throwing shoulder in the game but is expected to play on Saturday at Purdue.
4. Tennessee v. NC State
Channel: ABC
Date/Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.958 million
Tennessee allowed the fewest yards its allowed to a ranked opponent (143) since 1973 in Saturday’s win over NC State in Charlotte. The Volunteers are now 2-0 and positioned to be a College Football Playoff contender.
5. Arkansas at Oklahoma State
Channel: ABC
Date/Time: Noon ET
Viewers: 2.79 million
Oklahoma State pulled out a double-overtime loss over Arkansas on Saturday in the Noon ET slot on ABC. The Razorbacks led 21-7 entering halftime. Oklahoma State enters Week 3 ranked No. 13 in college football.
6. South Carolina at Kentucky
Channel: ABC
Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.72 million
South Carolina stifled the Kentucky offense in a 31-6 win in Lexington, allowing just 183 total yards of offense. The Gamecocks posted five sacks, four quarterback hurries and 11 tackles for loss. South Carolina true freshman EDGE Dylan Stewart finished the game with a sack and two quarterback hurries. UK quarterback Brock Vandagriff threw just 10 yards in the loss.
7. USF at Alabama
Channel: ESPN
Date/Time: 7 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.58 million
Alabama led just 14-13 entering the fourth quarterback of Saturday’s day but pulled away for a 42-16 win over USF. True freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams’ 43-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter opened up the Week 2 win.
8. Iowa State at Iowa
Channel: CBS
Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.28 million
Kyle Konrardy made a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left to give Iowa State a 20-19 victory over No. 21 Iowa. The win was just the Cyclones’ third victory in the last 11 games against the Hawkeyes. The finish helped the battle for the CyHawk finish No. 8 in Week 2’s college football TV ratings.
9. Baylor at Utah
Channel: FOX
Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.07 million
Utah pulled out a 23-12 win against Baylor on Saturday. Starting quarterback Cam Rising injured his throwing hand in the game and was on the sidelines in street clothes in the second half.
“We don’t think it’s serious,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said postgame on FOX. “That’s all I’ve been told. So let’s hope that is the case.”
10. Western Michigan at Ohio State
Channel: Big Ten Network
Date/Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 1.7 million
After a slow Ohio State debut in Week 1, Quinshon Judkins showed off what he’s capable of. The former Ole Miss transfer carried the ball just nine times but rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win over Western Michigan. Judkins and teammate TreVeyon Henderson make one of the top running back duos in the country.
Here are rankings No. 11 to No. 15
11. Texas Tech at Washington – FOX – 1.15 million
12. Cal at Auburn – ESPN2 – 1.11 million
13. Regional Action – Michigan State at Maryland / Eastern Michigan at Washington – Big Ten Network – 1.01 million
14. Regional Action – Bowling Green at Penn State / Akron at Rutgers – Big Ten Network – 968,000
15. Mississippi State at Arizona State – ESPN – 954,000